A couple of classes ago we discussed how the MTV hit reality show "The Hills" has recently come under fire. While I was a fan of the show in its initial seasons, now I see it as a program that a few eager producers piece together from the lives of four or five main "characters".
The point of reality TV shows is that there are not characters--only people. However, over the five or six seasons of the Hills, Lauren, Audrina, Heidi, Spencer, and Whitney have been made to fit into certain molds. Lauren is the sensitive, yet headstrong leading lady who seems to never experience anything really good in her life. Audrina is (was) the doting best friend who was always there for Lauren during her many ups and downs (despite a very rocky love life herself). After a couple of seasons, Heidi and Spencer have become the clear villains and Whitney stands as the voice of reason (for a reason that will always be unknown to me). The point is, none of these "characters" are the real Lauren, Audrina, Heidi, Spencer, and Whitney. They are the characters that MTV producers created to enhance drama and increase ratings.
The situations these characters are placed have become just as manufactured as their personalities. What started out as a show about a young girl entering the big city chasing her dreams as a fashion designer has just become and endless advertisement for popular fashion brands and the Las Vegas and Los Angeles night life. Sure they're making money from being on the show, but in reality--real reality--what other 20 something can afford to go out every night to swanky night clubs, while wearing a different designer outfit every day and driving a brand new $100,000 Mercedes?
Furthermore, what message is this sending the younger girls in America? Is it okay to put off real work for a life of parties and material riches? Growing up I always learned that you had to work for everything you wanted and it seems more and more that the Hills is showing that if you're "cool" enough you'll just get it. The popularity of this show has probably made hundreds of girls look at the television and say "I'm going to go to LA, enroll in school (which I won't go to...ever), and start my own fashion line". Goals and dreams are good...the "Lauren Conrad" goal is unattainable--unless you have the full force of one of the nations most popular television networks behind you.
Lauren Conrad's entire life since the time she was in high school has been scripted to enhance drama and tension. True, she has achieved some pretty remarkable things, however, her continued involvement in the show jeopardizes the legitimacy of her accolades. It becomes increasingly difficult to separate the successes she has garnered from the all of the fame and notoriety she has received from being associated with an MTV production.
Furthermore, stories continue to surface attacking the shows legitimacy. Gossip magazines publish stories that detail how each scene (because apparently we lead our lives as a series of scenes) is played out and how members of the show are casted. One particularly troublesome revelation was the rumor that Lauren Conrad does not even attend school anymore and when they film school scenes, her and her classmates have to change clothes half way through to make it appear as though it were two different classes.
MTV is sending a terrible message to young female Hill's fans. Aside from the fact that the show is not reality at all, they are telling these young girls that they can be like Lauren and her friends and should. However, Lauren and co. are not actually what they appear to be. They have become socialites who work occasionally on convenient projects. They have little or no formal education and probably little or no plans for the future except for acting in a movie now and then and working on a clothing line.
Who would make it their goal to be like Conrad, then? In my opinion, in five years no one will care about Lauren or her posse. So, what will the goal of looking like her mean then? What are all of her adoring fans going to do when she is no longer popular? Chances are they'll move on to the next "it" reality TV star, start wearing their new clothing line, and believe that the things they see on TV is what actually happens in real life.
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